414 
ON  THE  POISON-OAK  AND  ITS  ANTIDOTE. 
But  the  only  remedy  that  I  have  found  invariably  successful 
as  an  antidote  for  this  poison  is  an  indigenous  plant  growing 
very  abundantly  in  this  vicinity  and  in  other  parts  of  the  State, 
It  is  a  tall,  stout  perennial ;  belongs  to  the  Composite  family, 
and  looks  like  a  small  sun-flower.  It  is  from  one  to  three  feet  high  ; 
has  bright  yellow  flowers  in  heads  one  to  two  inches  in  diameter, 
(and  as  I  have  said)  like  small  sunflowers,  flowering  from  June 
to  October.  Before  flowering,  the  un expanded  heads  or  buds 
secrete  a  quantity  of  resinous  matter,  white  and  sticky — like 
balsam,  that  is  finally,  after  the  flower  expands,  distributed 
over  the  petals,  &c,  of  the  flower  like  varnish.  The  whole  plant, 
flowers,  leaves  and  all,  is  resinous  and  viscid.  When  it  grows 
in  dry  hills,  it  is  stiff  and  rigid,  with  narrow,  thin  leaves  ;  but 
in  damp  localities  it  is  more  robust  and  succulent,  with  wide, 
fleshy  leaves.*  Its  botanical  name  is  Grindelia  hirsutula  and 
G.  rohusta ;  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  more  than  one 
species,  and  all  the  different  forms  possess  the  same  remedial 
virtues. 
The  mode  of  using  it  is  as  follows  :  one  may  bruise  the  fresh 
herb  and  apply  it  by  rubbing  over  the  parts  affected  ;  or  boiling- 
it  in  a  covered  vessel,  make  a  strong  decoction  of  the  fresh  or 
dried  herb,  with  which  to  wash  the  poisoned  surfaces.  Its  re- 
medial properties  appear  to  be  contained  chiefly  in  the  resin  or 
balsam-like  juice  of  the  plant,  which  is  particularly  abundant 
on  the  surface.  One  application  is  sometimes  sufficient  for  a 
cure  •  but  if  the  disease  has  been  of  long  duration,  several  days 
will  elapse  before  relief  is  obtained. 
The  plant  is  a  remedy  for  the  poison-oak  used  originally  by 
the  Indians  of  this  vicinity,  and  by  them  its  virtues  have  been 
communicated  to  the  Spanish  Californian  people  who  are  now 
commencing  to  use  it. 
I  became  acquainted  with  it  in  the  following  manner  :  A  lady 
acquaintance  of  mine  was  poisoned  in  early  youth  by  the  poi- 
son-oak, and  there  resulted  a  cutaneous  affection  similar  to 
"  salt-rheum," — fiery,  burning,  insupportable — that  would  not 
yield  to  remedies  or  the  skill  of  good  physicians.    She  under- 
*  The  MS.  sent  to  the  printer  is  as  follows  ;  "Its  botanical  name  is 
Grindelia  hirsutula,  of  Hook  and  Arnott ;  and  it  belongs  to  the  natural 
order  Comjposiice  ;  of  the  two  for  msmentioned  above,  the  botanists  have 
made  two  species,  Grindelia  hirsutula  and  S.  robusta :  but  I  have  not,"  &c. 
